Saudi crown prince to visit US for first time since Khashoggi death
U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman during a welcome ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 13, 2025.
Courtesy of Bandar Algaloud/Saud | via Reuters
US President Donald Trump will meet with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday, and the leaders are expected to discuss deepening defense, trade and technology ties, as well as cooperation in artificial intelligence, security and nuclear energy.
The trip follows Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia in May, during which the kingdom pledged $600 billion in trade and investment to the United States. Analysts say Trump will try to solidify those commitments this week.
Tim Callen, a visiting fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute, said ahead of the meeting: “The US wants Saudi Arabia to buy more goods and services and increase its investments in US companies, and Saudi Arabia wants greater access to US technology and innovation to support its ambitious Vision 2030 reforms.”
Saying that the US-Saudi Investment Forum, planned to be held on November 19, will be an opportunity to sign more economic agreements between the two countries, Callen stated that Saudi Arabia wants a two-way road with Washington regarding investments.
“There is little doubt that Saudi investments and purchases of U.S. products will increase. However, it is possible that U.S. investments in Saudi Arabia will see the strongest growth in the coming years given the improving investment climate in the kingdom,” Callen said, “opportunities provided by Vision 2030 and the availability of reliable low-cost energy and abundant land to support the expansion of artificial intelligence and related activities of U.S. technology companies.”
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The US visit will be the first by Saudi agents since 2018 by Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler. He killed journalist and senior journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was critical of the Saudi regime, in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
Mohammed bin Salman, commonly known as MBS, denied ordering the killing, but a US intelligence report concluded the crown prince approved the operation..
Protests in Washington following the disappearance of prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi on October 10, 2018.
Omer Faruk | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Since the widespread scandal over the murder and criticism of the Saudi record on gender equality and human rights generally, the kingdom has sought to improve its global image. It has done so mainly by brokering peace deals in the Middle East and in its efforts to host blockbuster sporting events such as the 2034 World Cup in men’s football.
Having seen its regional foe Iran greatly weakened as a result of joint US and Israeli attacks on the republic, Saudi Arabia has seen its own dominance increase and positioned itself as an important strategic ally of the US in the region.
